The University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers was named the best hospital in Michigan by the U.S. News & World Report.
U-M’s hospital was ranked in the top 15 nationally in 11 specialty areas out of 16 and was recognized as “high performing” in four additional categories. Only approximately 3 percent of hospitals nationwide are ranked in the top 50 of any adult specialty field.
The rankings for UMHS range from 10th in ophthalmology and urology to6t 46h in Geriatrics. The only specialty area that did not receive a ranking or commendation by the U.S. News was psychiatry. According to a U-M press release, eleven specialty areas increased their rankings from the previous year.
Twelve of the 16 specialty areas are ranked using data including survival rates, patient safety, reputation and other care-related indicators—which include nurse staffing and other quality of care metrics. The other four specialties—ophthalmology, psychiatry, rehabilitation and rheumatology—are ranked purely on reputation.
U.S. News’ second-place hospital in Michigan, Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, was nationally ranked in 9 specialty areas. Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids was the magazine’s next hospital, thanks to a No. 27 national ranking in Pulmonology.
St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ypsilanti was not a part of the statewide rankings, but rated as “high performing” for knee replacement surgeries.
The rankings focus on specialty areas and procedures focus on treating the most difficult patients. The U.S. News website states that the rankings are particularly helpful “if your care calls for special expertise, or if age, physical ailments or a chronic condition add appreciable risk to your treatment or procedure.”
However, it notes that the rankings should only be a starting point in finding a hospital and that consultation with individual doctors is extremely important. Concerns such as travel, cost and insurance coverage should also be taken into account when looking at whether to pursue treatment at one of the more highly ranked hospitals.
In rankings released in June, C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital was also ranked in the top 50 nationally in all 10 pediatric specialties examined by the magazine. The highest ranking in the entire hospital system was for pediatric cardiology and heart surgery, where Mott Hospital ranked sixth in the country.
According to a University of Michigan release, Mott was the only hospital in Michigan to be ranked in all 10 pediatric specialty areas.
